On March 12, the European Parliament recognized wood products as greenhouse gas "sinks" as part of the action plans on greenhouse gas emissions and removals related to land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF). It encourages member states to use wood products over more energy-intensive materials, extending trees' useful lives and keeping the CO2 out of the atmosphere.
LULUCF's predecessor, the Kyoto Protocol of 1997, assumed whenever a tree was cut, the CO2 returned to the atmosphere at once rather than after decomposition. The new plan, however, sees using wood products as a means to keep greenhouse gasses contained. Organizations such as the European Panel Federation welcome LULUCF, which recognizes wood products' ability to store one cubic ton of CO2 per cubic meter.
